So, you’re probably thinking that I’ve had over 2 weeks to get unpacked and settled in and that probably my house is starting to look like a real house by now. Right?
Wrong!
Wish it was all together, but it totally is not. I lost a week with the Room Service Atlanta project, but that was such a worthy cause and well worth the time involved. I knew I’d be behind after that. My energy level is down as you can imagine and trying to get everything done has definitely been a challenge. I just want to sit right now, but that’s not going to get the job done either, even though I know I should give myself a break. Six months of renovations will wear you out, but I’m determined to get everything put together by Thanksgiving. Then, the Christmas boxes come out.
I had a few days last week of just walking around the house in circles, picking up stuff and moving it around, not getting much accomplished. But, I’m happy to say that most of the boxes are now unpacked, although that means things look worse instead of better, since all that “stuff” is now sitting around the house, in every spare space. So, I’m working on it, slowly but surely and it’s going to come together.
I’m still having to use the power tools, putting up blinds and rods and towel holders and lots of that stuff. I’ll be really happy to get to just the decorating part. That’s the part I love the most! One thing I did get done last week is getting up the shades on my 3 bedroom windows.
Thanks again to Payless Décor here in Atlanta for sponsoring my bamboo blinds. These are from the Premium collection, called Tibet, and I absolutely love them. I chose Tibet for my bedroom and living room, so I’ll be showing you lots more of my bamboo shades along the way. When I get my panels installed, it will look even better. These are lined and give plenty of privacy and they also block light really well. I can open them all the way up in the daytime for maximum light. Payless is affordable and I love the liners on these custom shades.
In my tiny master bathroom, I also installed a curved shower bar from Moen. I’ve loved working with Moen as well and they sent me faucets and these curved shower bars for both bathrooms. Grateful, I am! Please don’t think I take any of this for granted. I’m grateful for every perk I have gotten on this house.
If you’ve never used a curved shower bar, I can’t tell you how great they are. This is my first time using one and it really truly makes a huge difference in how big it makes a regular tub feel. The curved bar keeps the shower liner outside the tub at the top and really gives more of a spacious feel. The curtain doesn’t move at all where I’ve had regular rods and curtains and the liner tries to stick to you. Not with this one. I’m definitely pleased with this feature. I’ve got a mix of metals in here, with chrome knobs on the tub and satin nickel on the sink faucet, mixed with oil rubbed bronze towel bars, hooks and cabinet knobs.
Getting a tiny bathroom organized is one of my top priorities. This bathroom is very small and I need all the help I can get to keep it neat and tidy. I’ve used these Dispenser systems in all 3 houses I have lived in and love them! This one is called Ulti-Mate Dispenser, with 3 containers to hold shampoo, conditioner, and shower gel. It comes with peel off stickers so you can choose whatever words you want to put on here to mark the containers.
I found this one on Wayfair.com. They are a company I’m working with and they sent this one to me for free and I absolutely love it. It keeps my small shower tidy and free from all those bottles and this one even has a spot to hang my scrubby and razor. Now there’s nothing sitting around the tub collecting dirt. I also hung up my 24” towel bar inside my shower. That’s about the only spot I have to hang it and it works out fine in here. Doesn’t get wet at all. I’ll be sharing my towel bars with you later.
This Dispenser brand has been a fave of mine for over 20 years and I have had them in all 3 of my showers over the years. When I moved, I left them behind, since they stick up with heavy duty tape and adhesive. Love, love my Dispenser! Thanks to Wayfair for sending this one my way. Got this installed too, so you can see I have made a little progress.
I did manage to get the mirror installed on my antique vanity. These are screwed on and are 3 separate pieces. Love my vanity and yes, my old-school makeup mirror. Hello Clairol!
I’ve also been working underneath my bathroom cabinet on organizing all those toiletries we seem to accumulate. I had these Lazy Susans from my old kitchen and don’t need them in my current one, so I repurposed them under the sink to put my vitamins and other assorted toiletries for easy reach. I think this method will work out pretty well. I’m so bad about accumulating hair products and then using half of them and deciding I don’t like them anymore. All of that takes up a lot of space, so I’ve pared it down.
I had a tiered shelf too from my old kitchen and added it on the other side for more hair products and extras that I have on hand. Hoping to keep this area organized and not messy. I also added some peel and stick tile under here since it was such a yucky old cabinet. That did the trick and it’s all clean now. Thanks for the suggestion on that! Added a few nails for good measure too.
So, back to the guest room. It’s messy and full of all my beautiful accessories. I know that I’m not going to have room for all of my “stuff” and I’m quite sure a yardsale is in my future. I know some of you were feeling so bad for me when I left Birmingham and sold so many of my things. As you can see, no need to feel sorry for me. I have way more than I need to fill this house up. It will be hard to decide what to keep and what to part with.
One by one, all of my pretties came out of their boxes and wrapping paper.
Treasured goodies and pretty things. So many of these things came from yardsales over the years and I still love them.
Some of my urns and greenery.
The living room hasn’t come far either, as you can see. More clutter to deal with. I had to get it all out to see what I have to work with, then I’ll get busy deciding what goes where.
I sent out my Ikat fabric to a local fabric store who does drapery panels. Fringe Benefits on Canton Hwy. in Marietta, makes pinched pleat panels for $55 each (plus lining), so instead of trying to do these, I sent them out to be sewed. They are so pretty and I can’t wait to get them up in my living room. That’s one thing off my plate!
I threw some of my white dishes and a bunny or 2 together in my corner cabinet.
I’ve got a fun tablescape challenge coming up this week, so will be working on the dining room later on.
Did you spot these beauties on the sideboard? Thanks to working with Kirklands (link to my lamps there) in a couple of promotions, I had giftcards to spend and found these in the store at $55 each. As soon as I saw them, I immediately knew they would be perfect on my dining room sideboard, pulling in the gray of the walls, and the golden color on my chairs. They are sitting on a blond wood base, which adds more texture and different wood tone to the space. I am going to have so much fun in this tiny dining room, setting the table and making it pretty. Since I don’t have an eat in kitchen anymore, this table will be used every day. My old black breakfast set will eventually end up on my screened porch.
The den has lots more stuff out too and we are going to work on the rest of those ceiling tiles this week. Dad has had a week off, but he’ll be back over this week and we’ll finish up a few more little things like this ceiling.
I need an intervention! So many plates and glassware and the problem is….I love it all!
How to decide what to keep and what to pass on?
I will be very happy to see it all find a place and get this house together.
My black chairs will eventually end up on my porch, so I will have to keep those somewhere until that happens.
I’m trying to get my office together and will be working on it more this week. I found the shades that were packed away for this chandelier. That chandy is a $5 thriftstore find, by the way, from when I was in Birmingham. I love my thrifty finds!
Most of the kitchen is unpacked and has found a place in the cabinets. Still haven’t styled it all yet, but I’ll get there. I’m trying to not clutter up my countertops too much.
One thing I did buy was some grits and I’ve been enjoying those a few mornings a week, with my coffee. It was nice to get out my pottery coffee cup and use it again. One bummer thing that happened is that my new Ikea microwave decided to stop working, so it’s got to come down and go back to Ikea. Not fun, but it’s got to be done. I do miss my microwave too!
So, that’s the week. Still not a lot of pretty to look at yet, but I know in 2 more weeks, I’ll be a lot further along. I really want to be finished by Thanksgiving week, then I can relax a bit for the Holidays. I may not even finish up my touch up painting before Christmas, but if I don’t, I’m not going to stress about it. It will get done when it gets done!
Rhonda says
What a fun journey for us, and what an exhausting one for you! I can’t even imagine how tired you must feel! BUT, the house is looking great and I know you feel so proud of your hard work! Looking forward to the weeks ahead, when you have found homes for your pretties and decorate for the holidays! Take care of yourself!
Barbara (WA) says
Thank you for sharing “before”, keeping it real! I think it’s smart to get everything unpacked so you can easily see what you have and make your decisions. I would love to know your paint colors sometime in the future. Your office is stunning!
Rhoda says
Hi, Barbara, I’m going to do a whole post on my paint colors, so stay tuned real soon!
Barbara (WA) says
Thank you, Rhoda! Plus, duh, I just realized you probably documented the painting along the way so I will snoop around your blog 🙂
Adie says
Rhoda, it’s coming along great! I know it seems like it takes forever, but you have really gotten a lot accomplished. You are lucky to have the space to spread things out and see what you have as you decide what to put where.
On a side note, the new Queen of Hearts antique mall just opened today on Sandy Plains Rd. I remember you went there on your last “thrifting field trip” so I thought you might be interested. I went first thing this morning; it is very nice. See my blog post about it here:
http://make–do.blogspot.com/2012/11/queen-of-hearts.html
BamaCarol says
Hey, Rhoda! I see that you still have the brown transferware dishes that you got at my yard sale! I am the one who lives in Indian Springs Village. We finally got around to doing a major reno on the house so I have taken your advise with paint colors and we have removed all the carpeting and put in hardwoods too. If you decide to get rid of those dishes please let me know and I’ll come from Alabama to get them! I’m still working on my husband as far as painting the kitchen cabinets but decided to put that on hold for a while since we did so much with our reno like adding a huge master bathroom and adding an elevator too. Your home is beautiful!
Rhoda says
Hi, Carol! Thanks for the update on your house, glad to hear you did some of those suggestions. I’m sure it is fabulous. And no, I’m not getting rid of those brown transferware dishes, love them!
thanks for following my journey all this time!
Karena says
Rhoda, moving is so much work! The unpacking and decisions on what to put where in the new house takes time. I know you will pull it altogether, so try to be patient! 🙂
xoxo
Karena
Art by Karena
2012 Artists Series
Linda says
I recently painted my kitchen green, but your dining room color is so beautiful, I now have to repaint my kitchen that same color! Oh well!! You house looks so beautiful. 🙂
beth says
We love the fact that you are “keeping it real” and showing all the steps from reno to moving and now unpacking. I’ve never seen the unpacking stage look so lovely! And, you are so talented with showing us the “step-by-step” process….so this falls into that overall blog-decorating process of start to finish and everything in between! The blinds in the Master bedroom are a great finishing touch on that wall with your Antique Armoir! Really pulls that together in your bedroom! Love your vanity. Yep….I know about that makeup mirror. I still have mine. It’s in my daughter’s room on a white Antique vanity I have in there. And you go girl….even showing us what is inside your bathroom cabinets….cause don’t we all want to open those up anyway when we are in someone else’s home? Keeping it real for sure…we love that about you! Take your time…there is no rush! We are simply enjoying it with you and along for the ride and the great photos! And the great tips and product recommendations. Yep – you are saving us alot of time and research there as well!
Sandy says
Oh, my, Rhoda, your home already looks like a designer home. It is beautiful. I laughed when you called your dining room tiny. That’s the size most of us out here in blogland have too. You’ve come a long way and we all know what it looked like when you purchased it. Lots of hard work (kissy kiss for your dear Dad and Mom!), tears (I’m sure) and sore muscles. But it is worth it in the end. I’ve enjoyed every moment of your journey and can hardly wait to see your home all decked out.
KATHYSUE says
Rhoda, I am so impressed with your tenacity. You are quite a woman. I am also so happy for you to have your own home with all of your special touches. xo Kathysue
Mary L says
Rhoda,
Enjoy the process hon, you have come so far in the past year! Glad we could share the experience with you, I know the house is going to be a show stopper once you finish decorating it.
Many Blessings in Your New Home!!
Paula Lusk says
Rhoda- Your house is going to look beautiful when you are finished. Just remember where you started to where you are, don’t be hard on yourself.
I think that you have done great on your blog giving all of the recommendations on the items sent to you to try out. I’m going to go out and get the shower dispenser. Been wanting one for years, just didn’t know how they hold up. And, low and behold, you wrote about it. Take care and don’t worry about everything being done right now. Blessings – Paula
Jeanie says
Love, love, love that vanity and mirror! And the stool!
Heidi @ Decor & More says
Aww, Rhoda, I think you’ve made GREAT progress! You have to get it all out, before you can start on the fun stuff — decorating! It’s probably been a little like Christmas, too, rediscovering your beautiful things. Happy for you… 😀
xo Heidi
SheilaG @ Plum Doodles says
Everything is looking so good, Rhoda. We’ve been in our house 3 years and yours looks more finished than ours! 🙂 You know that I’ll come over and help most any time, just let me know. And I can help you decide what goes in the yard sale, too- hee-hee, insert evil laugh here. 😀
Rhoda says
Sheila, I may be calling you, I could use an extra hand!
gayle says
It’s looking good! I just moved out of my big house and had to get rid of so many of my treasures, as you did earlier. It is hard and I still regret selling or giving away many items.. I keep saying it is just stuff but…
A question.. my DIL in Canton got a new rug in the family room, the salesman said put your sofa on the edge ( not on) the rug as it makes the room look larger. Is that a personal decision ? thanks, and I just realized you are too busy to think about this question. Rather hear that you took a minute to rest. I like the comment on working in short bursts.
Mary in Idaho says
Love, love, love your attitude. Wish I had your attitude all the times we moved. Blessings to you and your efforts. Love your blog.
colleen says
A home is never “done”. Enjoy this wonderful (at times overwhelming) journey!! Take a deep breath and take your time. It all looks beautiful. Love watching it all!!
Eva says
Hey…I see your style coming through even though it’s stacked here and there. What a special home you are creating.
ann says
Your is looking beautiful, Hang in there it takes time.
Kelly - Talk of the House says
Your vanity is precious, just precious!! Love it. And the blinds look great in your bedroom. You do need a break. But, I know how it is with people telling you to slow down, and you just want to get the jobs finished. I hope you can get to a point that you can take a break. You certainly deserve it!